Section 28B.112.005. Findings.

The legislature finds that the issue of campus sexual violence is a serious issue for many students as well as poses a challenge to all of our institutions of higher education. Several high profile cases in recent years garnered national attention, with more than ninety colleges and universities nationwide currently under investigation by the United States department of education's office for civil rights for violation of Title IX relating to how they have handled sexual violence cases.

In 2014, the White House convened a task force designed to protect students from sexual assault. The task force has recommended that schools conduct campus climate assessments and provided a sample memorandum of understanding for institutions to enter into with local law enforcement.

At the same time, the federal government and several states have moved forward to address campus sexual violence policies regarding prevention, investigation, and disciplinary action. These actions include the statewide adoption of policies at the public four-year universities in New York and all schools receiving state financial aid in California. It also includes new requirements included in the federal violence against women act amendments to the Clery act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1092(f).

The legislature further finds the state's public two and four-year institutions of higher education are taking steps to improve their institutional policies around campus sexual violence, including being represented at a statewide conference held in October 2014.

In order to complement federal policy and ensure the safety of all our students, the legislature finds it necessary to establish minimum standards for all institutions pertaining to campus sexual violence policies and procedures and encourages institutions of higher education to share with all students and current employees, especially survivors of sexual violence, the protections, resources, and services available to them if they are a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Institutions should endeavor to prevent retaliation and prevent the student from having to undergo unnecessary or duplicative retellings of the incident.

[ 2015 c 92 § 1.]

NOTES:

Campus climate assessment—Report—2015 c 92: "(1)(a) The four-year institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 shall conduct a campus climate assessment to gauge the prevalence of sexual assault on their campuses.

(b) The state board for community and technical colleges shall conduct a uniform campus climate assessment of community and technical colleges to gauge the prevalence of sexual assault on community and technical college campuses.

(c) The assessment in this section should include, but is not limited to:

(i) The prevalence of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on and off campus;

(ii) Student and employee knowledge of:

(A) Their institution's Title IX coordinator's role;

(B) Campus policies and procedures addressing sexual assault and violence;

(C) Options for reporting sexual violence as a survivor or witness; and

(D) The availability of resources on and off campus, such as counseling, health, and academic assistance;

(iii) Student and employee bystander attitudes and behavior;

(iv) Whether survivors reported to the institutions, law enforcement, or both, whether campus police or a local law enforcement agency, and reasons why they did or did not report; or

(v) An evaluation of student and employee attitudes and awareness of the campus sexual violence issue and any recommendations for better addressing and preventing sexual violence on and off campus.

(2) Findings shall include an evaluation of student and employee attitudes and awareness of campus sexual violence issues and, if needed, should provide recommendations for making improvements in addressing and preventing sexual violence on and off campus.

(3) The four-year institutions of higher education and the state board for community and technical colleges shall report their findings to the governor and the higher education committees of the legislature by December 31, 2016. The report must also include a plan or proposal to undertake a statewide public awareness campaign on campus sexual violence.

(4) An assessment conducted to comply with new federal requirements pertaining to campus climate assessments fulfills the requirements in this section.

(5) This section expires July 1, 2017." [ 2015 c 92 § 4.]

2015 c 92 § 1.